Minneapolis caucus site shut down after pushing, shoving

Organizers for a caucus at one DFL District 60B's precincts shut down the event after a verbal altercation there dissolved into pushing, shoving, and heated arguments that got out of control, according to police.

The Tuesday caucus, at the Brian Coyle Center in Minneapolis' Cedar-Riverside neighborhood, began at 7 p.m., and was shut down after 45 minutes.

Minneapolis police spokesman John Elder said arguments arose when the Somali Democratic Caucus began selecting delegates for committees representing the Cedar-Riverside area.

District 60B is represented by representative Phyllis Kahn. She is being challenged by Mohamud Noor, a member of the Minneapolis school board who is also interim executive director for the Confederation of Somali Community in Minnesota, which is based at the Brian Coyle Community Center. Neither could be reached for comment Tuesday night.

Elder said officers were outside the building at 7 p.m., and were approached by organizers multiple times to diffuse arguments that were getting out of control.

"There was pushing and shoving as well," Elder said, adding that nobody was arrested.

At 7:45 p.m., caucus organizers decided to call the event off, and asked police to disperse the crowd, Elder said. He added that the crowd cleared without incident.